Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-19


Raoul's counsel, Maitre Tetu, had made a
splendid speech in the roart, where many Of
the unfortunate lieKtenants brother officers
had congregated He recapitulated his
glorious conduct i'll Tonduin, his devoted
courage in times of danger
The suspense and anxiety had undermined
the prisoners health, and when the verdict
was delivered he seemed to feel his heart
burst
His military grade and soldiers position
were taken from him; his mother had re-
preached him for bringing shame and misery
on her gray hairs, and on an honorable name,
and his cup was full of bitterness. But he
had not betrayed his love, the "angel i'll bluen
He was asked, according to custom. if he
had nothing to say for his vindica:ion, and
this seemed to rouse him
Circumstances are against me" he cried.
"but am innocent | have never disgraced
my uniform"
Then women screamed, and his servant ut
tered a heartrending cry, for the prisoner had
fallen prostrate and the valorous man, who
had struggled iiercely and SUCCESSFULLY with
savages, who had resisted the cruel deadly
waves, was ms helpless as baby and obliged
to be carried out of court.
He was taken to tie prison infirmary, and
he muttered:
"Thank God! am going to die, but have
kept my promise.
All night, in his troubled sleep, he dreamt
of Valentine and the dead man on the downs.
He thought the angel in blue" was by him;
that his hand caressed the feathery. splendid
fieecy hair, and that he gave her back the
stained gloved, saying, En- souvenir de
moi"
He awoke suddenly, feeling a velvety
touch, and he uttered great cry of joy, for
Valentine was kneeling by the miserable bed,
and his mother and the old colonel were close
to her
You are saved, RaouIn she exclaimed in
her enchanting voice, calling him by his
Christian name, without knowing it; pray
forgive mt-forgive me-but at last | have
done my duty
Her face at this moment was more seraphic
than ever, and that unfortunate man gazed
at her in ecstasy, thinking perhaps that he was
in paradise, and she was really transformed
into an angel But how could Valentine be
in paradise? She was not dead Had he not
sacrificed his life to save herl
What does it meanln he muttered. Il
have kept my word, I have betrayed moth
ing and when at last he understood the
truth, that Valentine had confessed her folly,
in his unseltishness he regretted it, and kept
on repeating:
what heroismi What a sacrificed Why
have You made iti would never have be
trayed You"
H. nA ~ loot bot
reSs, his "angel in blue" for whom he had
done 50 much, loved him, had always done
20, and that his heroism had broken all the
bonds of her egotism and selfishness. She
now, aided by her father, stopped at no hui
initiation TO clear the condemned man. The
letter was shown, the glove matched to the
other one, scented with the same perfume.
and the shopman had no difficulty in recog-
nizing his beautiful customer, the loveliest,
he declared, be had ever had. All the form
alities were gone through, and the comte and
Nine. Froment turned away disguised and
furious at all the scandal and gossip.
Raoul was free. now from all stain
Valentine loved him and was his fiance. But
all his cherished dreams were not to be
realized The great emotions he had gone
through had made his old wound open anew.
His intense happiness had caused him to rally
for time, but, as the doctor had predicted,
he was a doomed man.
He was not strong enough to be moved far,
but was taken to charming little chateau,
Just outside the town, where his mother, mis-
cradle at the unjust reproaches she had made
him, accompanied him, and where Valentine
and her father, who had taken lodgings close
by to be always near him, came constantly to
see him. The young girl, with all the ardor
OF her youth and health, was as convinced of
his recovery as she had been of his acquittal
but one was as fictitious as the other
Raoul lad seen death too often to be de-
ceived; and when she babbled of future
prospects and plans bis courage failed
him He would scarce ~ her be
out of his sight, and, propped up with
pillows, would gaze at her, as if he wished to
take the adored image beyond the grave.
And his fiance never seemed TO be able to do
enough to satisfy her remorse and to atone to
him for what he had suffered through her,
All her charming coquetry was employed to
am,lse him, and her prettiest blue toilets
were put on to please his fancy. Her lux
uriant hair was dressed as he liked it, and he
was never tired Of touching and caresSing it.
She would then laugh joyously, for how
could he be very i'll, when he could assume
such light heartedneS; for the nObleness OF
his character and his love sought in every
way to save pain to his adored one. The
shock was all the more terrible for her when
it did come, and was frightful expiation.
a feel l am dying" he said one day to the
al rETlaa he oil Iii
II feel my strength is leaving me, and am
but a coward, for l have not the courage to
die and leave-Valentine
He pronounced the name so pathetically
and reverently that his tone gave an in
credible pathos to his words.
at was not pleasant, colonel" he con,
tinued, ito die like dog on the battle field
and yet did not feel as do now should
have scorned to dread death at that time
but then did not know my beloved one"
The poor young fellows frame shook with
sorrow, and the old colonel turned away tc
hide the tears coursing down his withered
cheeks
MY dear boy" he began, but emotion
choked both of them, and neither, though
they tried, could utter another word
x
had wasted slowly away
Quite at the last, he started up and said
"En avant, Francaisi"
Then his voice became marvelously sweet
and low
Il will never betray you; trust me, Valen-
tine"
He was holding her hand, and, as he
pressed it, he tried to raise it to his CULVER
ing lips
Then he fell back and died.
The colonel did not long survive his favor
tie The shock of the late events had been
too much for him, and he was buried 8
twelvemonth after.
If you go to certain charitable religious
institution in the north Of France and enter
a large bare room, the sale d'asile, WHARF
little dirty children are instructed, you will
stricter than the order requires, and whose
patience is inexhaustible.
The only sign Of anger she ever shows is
when some pretty little girl denotes pre-
cocious coquetTy, by twisting a ribbon in her
hair, or any other petty sign of vanity. Her
perfect features then assume a panied and
piteous expression, and she reproves the de
linquent severely This nun Is Valentine
R. Travena in Belgravia
CONSUMPTION BY INGESTlON.